Switch-stand



(No Model.)

1 D; TRACY.

SWITCH STAND. N0. 249,422 4 Patented Nov. 8,1881.

N. PETERS. Pmmmo nen Vlanh nginn. n. a

and D designates the vertical actuating-spindle, adapted to be turned within said stand or column. Upon the lower end of the spindle D is secured a crank, D, which has in it a slot, 01, (best seen in Fig. 4,) and projecting from the under side of the moving-rod B is a crank-pin, I), fitting in said slot and through which the crank imparts motion to said rod. Upon the upper side of the rod B is an upwardly-projecting lug, c, and on the adjacent part ot'thc stand is a downwardly-projecting lug, d,- (shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2;) and when the rod is moved to its fullest extent in either direction the lugs 0 and d are brought into linewith each other by the movement of the crank D,

- and interlock. The two lugs c 61 may be. re-

gardedas interlocking-catches.

E designates an operating-handle, which is bifurcated sotas to embrace the upper part of the spindle, and is pivoted at e thereto; and F designates a locking-bolt adapted to move vertically in guides f f on the stand, and capable ofpbeingldepressed so that its lower end will project down upon the side of the moving-rod B, as.;seenin Fig. 3. The upper end of the docking-bolt is provided with a ring-shaped portion, F, which surrounds the spindle D, and to which the handle E is connected by a link, 9, asbest seen in Fig. 3.

'IlLWill be clearly understood thatas the lugs c anddare in line or in engagement when the switch is locked, it is necessary to move the rod Blaterally outward from the stand to disengage the lug c from the lug d, and this is effected by means of the slotted crank D actingv upon the crank-pin b. When the switch is locked, however, the bolt F prevents such lateral movement of therod B, and said bolt must be raised before the switch can be shifted by hand. f

The handle E has a slot,'h, formed in it, and when the handle is depressed this slot receives. a-hasp, h, upon an arm projecting from the spindle D, and through which a padlock may be inserted to prevent the switch from being tampered with.

-When the switch is to be shifted the padlock is removed from the hasp h, and the handle E is. raised thereby through the link g,raising the lockingolt F. The handle may then be turned or swung horizontally, turning the spindle D and moving the crank D horizontally to move the rod B, first laterally, then longitudinally,

. and then laterally to bring the lug c thereon upon the opposite side of the lug d. The handle E is then moved down or depressed over the li asp h, and thereby the lockin g-boltF is pushed down upon the side of the rod B, precluding anyfurther lateral movement thereof. It will be clearly understood that the operation of shifting the switch may be performed with one hand by first raising the handle or lever E, then movin g it horizontally,and finally depressing it.

The advantage of constructing the lockingbolt F with the upper ring-shaped portion, F, is that the link g may move thereon in the arc of a circle when the handle E is shifted horizontally.

I will now describe how the switch may be automatically shifted by a passing train when locked in the wrong position.

The lugs c and d are inclined upon their enf gaging-faces as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and the spindle D is maintained in an elevated position by means of a spring, G, arranged be- 7 5 tween a shoulder, j, on the spindle D and af shoulder, k, upon the stand 0.

In Fig. l I have shown the wheel S upon the main rail A, and if the switch had accidentally been left open the flange of the wheel would force the switch-rail'A away from the 4 main rail, and would pull the moving-rod B in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and the inclined face of the lug c acting upon the correspondingly-inclined face of the lug 05 would depress the spindle D and crank D against the force of the spring G sufficiently to allow the lug c to pass under past the level face of the lug d, (see Fig. 2,) and then the rod would be raised by the spring G, so that the lug o 0 would engage with the oppositesidc ofthe lug d, thus locking the switch in the other position. Inasmuch as the moving-rod yields or moves downward to permit the lug c to pass the lug d, the former lug may be said to yield downward; but in lieu of the spring Gr being applied to the spindle, the lug (1 might be made to yield upward against the force of a similar spring, or the lug (1 might be secured so that it would be detached or broken off by a strong longitudinal thrust on the rod B in either direction; but in the latter case the lugs would not have inclined faces.

I will now describe Figs. 5 and 6, which represent myinvention as applied to a stub-switch stand. In this case the arrangement and construction of the stand 0, the spindle and crank D D, the handle E, and the locking-bolt F are all similar to corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to. 4, except that the spindle is not capable of yielding vertically, and the spring G is therefore not necessary. The moving-rod B has a lug, 0, upon its inner side, which may engage with either of two notches, l, in thestand to hold the switch in one or the other position; 115 but inasmuch as .a stub switch is not shifted automatically by a train the lug and notches have straight instead of inclined en gagingf faces. The notches lin reality form catches, with which the lug 0 may engage, and the portion of the'stand between the notches Zmay be regarded as a lug. The lockin g-bolt F projects down on the side of the rod B, and prethe stand with two notches, l, as in Figs.5 and 6, and when the switch is shifted to either of its extreme positions, so that thelu g c engages with either notch, the locking-bolt F is pro- 5 jected downward. upon the side of the rod, as

beforedescribed, to prevent lateral movement thereof.

It is obvious that when the switch is in its intermediate position the crank D will stand at right angles to the rod B, as seen in Fig. 9, and hence it isclear that,-inasmuch as the crank has not power, when moved in either direction from its central position, to move the rod Bv laterally, the said rod' cannot be heldby its lugs c entering a notch in the stand.

In order to holdcthe rod B when the switch is in itsintermediate position, I provide the rod with a hole, m,in its upper side,into which the end of the locking-bolt F is inserted, as clearly seen in Fig. 8.

In both the forms of stub-switch stands here shown it willbe seen that the rod B is held rigidly against longitudinal movement by its lug engaging with the notches in the stand, and that the spindle, crank, and crank-pin are entirely relieved of the great strain often produced by a passing train and transmitted through the rod B. In ordinary switch-stands all this strain is received upon the crank-pin, and generally upon the crank and spindle, and hence these movable parts are subjected to immense strain and wear, and soon require to be. Such parts also are liable to and.

replaced. oftendo break, leaving the switch-rails unsestraining,wear, and breakage of these parts is obviated by my invention. i

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Thecomb'ination of a switch-moving rod and aswitch-stand provided withinterlocking lugs or catches, having inclined engagingfaces, and one of which is adapted to yield to enable the lug or catch upon the rod to pass thelug or catch upon the stand, substantially as and for the purpose specified. c o i 2. Thecombination of aswitch-moving rod and a switch-stand provided with interlocking lugs or catches having inclined engaging-faces,

and one of which is adapted to yield to enable the lugjor catch upon the rod to pass the lug or catch upon the stand, and a spring for maintaining said lugs or catches in engagement with each other, substantially as specified.

cured, and thereby causing accidents; All such.

3. The combination of a switch-moving rod and a switch-stand provided with interlocking lugsorcatcheshavinginclinedengaging-faces,a

upon said spindle for actuating said moving- :rod, and a spring for returning said spindle and crank, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the rod B and stand 0,provided with inclined catches a d, the spindle D, the slotted crank D, the crank-pin b, rigidly fixed to said rod and en gagin g with said slotted crank, and the sprin g G, arranged within spindle adapted to yield longitudinally, a crank said stand and between the shouldersj and k,

6. The combination of a switch-moving rod and a switch-stand provided with interlocking lugs or catches, a spindle and slotted crank, a

crank-pin fixed to said moving-rod and fitting said slotted crank, and a locking-bolt projecting on the side of said rod for precluding lateral movement thereo-f, substantially as specified.

rod and a switch-stand provided with inter lockin g lugs or catches, a spindle and a slotted crank for operating said rod, and a locking it bolt projecting on the side of said rod andpreeluding lateral movement thereof, of a handle adapted to be moved horizontally to turn said spindle, and raised or lowered to actuate said locking-bolt, substantially as specified.

8. The combination of the switch stand or column (3, the spindle D, the handle E, ful- 8 5 7. The combination, with a switch-moving crumed at e, the locking-bolt F, having a ringshaped upper portion, F, surrounding said stand or column, andthe link g, connecting said handle and said rin g-shaped portion F, all substantially as specified.

I DWIGHT TRACY;

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, CHANDLER HALL.

loo 

